Southgate admits he feared a Boro struggle

After a 15 match unbeaten run at the start of 2007 pushed them up towards the top half of the table and on the brink of a place in the FA Cup semi-final, there was a slight change and genuine hopes were raised that Southgate's first year in charge would herald greater results than initially expected.

However, since the home defeat to Manchester City on March 17 and the superseding FA Cup exit at Manchester United two days later, Boro's campaign has plunged into disappointment.

The only win from their last eight matches was against relegated Watford at the Riverside Stadium and, with just two games left against teams at the centre of the battle to avoid the drop, today's result at the JJB Stadium is essential for the team from Teesside.

Southgate, for one, knows that. He is totally focused on preserving a place in the top-flight as quickly as possible so that he can then focus on the summer transfer targets and persuading the likes of Mark Viduka to stay on.

"This is not a position we would choose to be in," said Southgate, whose side face Fulham at home next Sunday.

"Six months ago we might have thought we should be in this position. But then January through to March we had a run where we thought we could have reassessed our goals.

"That has not proved to be the case. In recent weeks the lack of strength in depth of the squad has hindered us. We have not been able to put a settled team out and we have not picked up a good result.

"I would hope not to be here again in 12 months, but you never know what the future holds. My desire is to move the club forward and we are all stronger for this season."

Southgate knows he will not be given an overwhelming budget to spend on new players during the close-season, despite the increased income from the television rights.

He added: "The people you bring in are the most important and recruitment is critical, but what we do on the training field will also have a major impact on our season next time around. Having had a year in this role I know.

"Generally speaking, last summer I spoke about evolution and there's a necessity to do that because you can't change things overnight. But you only have to see the trend of league finishes over ten years to see we have not made the step forward we would have liked as a club but we are determined to do it."

With the exception of the record-breaking seventh place finish in 2005 under Steve McClaren, Middlesbrough's only other finish in the top half of the Premiership arrived when they ended up ninth in 1999.

But Southgate used the example of Wigan, who could drop into the bottom three tonight just 12 months after securing tenth spot in their first year among the elite, to highlight how quickly things can turn around.

And, provided he attracts the right personnel and retains his best players, the Middlesbrough boss is convinced he can help progress to the next stage in the new campaign.

"In an ideal world Paul Jewell [the Wigan manager] would not have lost Pascal Chimbonda or Jimmy Bullard last summer," said Southgate, reflecting on a Latics side that has failed to win any of its last seven games.

"But they, like us, are down there for a reason and you have to keep your better players if you want to move forward.

"It's not been a reality check for us this season. But lots of things are also out of our hands during the summer; freedom of contract of players, clauses in contracts.

"They are all things that make a club's position more difficult. That's the nature of modern football. You have to replace departed players with the highest quality you can find."

With Julio Arca's introduction instrumental in Middlesbrough's fightback from two goals down against Tottenham seven days ago, the little Argentinean is in line for his first start since the defeat to United in the FA Cup.

Arca has been out with a groin problem and Southgate, who has a major doubt over the fitness of Lee Cattermole, said: "There is a decision to be made there because he has been outstanding for us.